XFER Blog

It has been two weeks since the National Communications Association warned the world about the GameOver Zeus and Cryptolocker ransomware, and if you haven't taken steps to avoid these threats, it's not too late - if you haven't been infected yet, do so as soon as possible. Otherwise, your network will be vulnerable, and so will your banking credentials.

Does your company have dedicated antivirus software to protect it against the annoying threats on the Internet? Sometimes, a computer virus can weasel its way past your software, but there's no greater frustration than when you realize that the reason you contracted a virus is because an employee disabled your software. Don't let this happen to you!

We've come across a fun, furry idea to relieve workplace stress. Kitties and puppies! In a fun twist to the workday, many companies are allowing staff to bring their pets with them to the office, and the results are adorable!

If your Dad happens to be a business owner, then you know how hard it can be to give him a nice Father's Day present. Business owners tend to be good at buying themselves whatever they need or want. Every business owner can benefit from IT services. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

The Internet is a vast ocean filled with all sorts of different creatures. Many are harmless, like the bottlenose dolphin, but once in a while you will encounter an aggressive shark. But no matter how powerful or intelligent these creatures are, they still wind up flopping around on the deck of some fisherman's boat. Why? Because fishermen know what they're looking for and how to capture it. The same can be said about Internet phishers.

Technology might be growing more mobile, but the need for support remains the same. Yet, the need for technical support on-the-go grows ever more important. What will happen to your business if you aren't able to get IT support, and it's an emergency?

Microsoft has changed its tune recently. They have made a serious push to take advantage in the mobile computing explosion by creating software that is designed specifically for the mobile device user. When the software giant released Windows Phone 8 in the fourth quarter of 2012, many thought it was only a matter of time before the software would resonate with mobile users. Unfortunately for Microsoft, the smartphone market hasn't been as friendly as the home and business computing market, and Windows Phone 8 has been a thorough disappointment.

A new botnet threat could spell "game over" for unaware Windows users - the threat targets almost all versions of Windows and Windows Server (excluding Windows 8.1). Even though the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Justice have disrupted it, users are still at risk. Thankfully, they still have time - two weeks, until the threat returns.

Spell check makes spelling super easy. All you have to do is regurgitate a string of letters that halfway sound like the word you're thinking of and the red squiggly line will take care of the rest. Admittedly, spellcheck has turned most of us into lazy spellers, which is why it's crucial that your spell check settings are adjusted properly when using Microsoft Publisher.

We all know about the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but do you know about Dogecoin? Its figurehead, the grammatically-challenged Shiba Inu, quickly became an Internet sensation called the Doge meme, and was adopted as the mascot for Dogecoin. However, before you go out and buy yourself some Dogecoin for you and your buddies, you should know that its database, the Doge Vault, has been hacked.

Many people often associate the coming of spring with spring cleaning, or giving their house a good frisking. They use this opportunity to get rid of all of the junk they don't need anymore, such as useless wedding gifts or things they haven't touched, let alone seen, in years. The same thing can be done with your IT department at the workplace.

When it comes to productivity, the latest technology can be a huge boon. A proper word processor can increase your productivity drastically if you know how to use it. However, one of today's most ingenious writers - George R. R. Martin - is still stuck in the Stone Age of word processing technology!

In light of all of the recent vulnerabilities found in Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser and Windows XP operating system, owners of XP are growing nervous about the upcoming "patch Tuesday," Microsoft's monthly patch release day. But, what if what Microsoft isn't patching in the newer operating systems is what needs to be patched the most in XP?

In our previous blog article, we introduced you to Chris Dancy, aka "The Most Connected Human on Earth." We told you Chris' story, how the former IT manager lost his job due to corporate downsizing and then turned to quantitative technology to find relevance in an ever-changing work environment. Today, Chris utilizes hundreds of different technologies and systems as part of his "quantitative life existence." In part two of our interview with Chris, he explains how you too can be a connected human.

Known as "The Most Connected Human on Earth," Chris Dancy is famous for utilizing hundreds of technologies and systems that work together to literally track and archive his every move. For Chris, it's not about bragging rights - it's about pioneering "a quantified life existence." What does a quantified life look like? To find out, we got a chance to talk with Chris!

Don't trust anything you can't see - a valuable lesson for anyone. But, why shouldn't you trust your own phone? Egyptian programmer Sherif Hashim has discovered a vulnerability in the most recent version of iOS (7.1.1) that allows hackers to physically access your contacts without unlocking your phone.

Microsoft stated weeks ago that they would no longer support Windows 8.1, unless the operating system was updated to Windows 8.1 Update by May 13th. But one day before the deadline, Microsoft announced they have pushed the deadline back substantially. This update is crucial if you desire to continue receiving patches and updates from the company. Which you should!

Most people think of Microsoft Word as a normal word processor, and to an extent, that's exactly what it is. But did you know that Word 2013 has a built-in citation mechanism for your research needs? Say you are writing a white paper for marketing use, and you took specific statistics from a website. You want to make sure you cite these facts. Why? Because if you cite them, it makes your business look professional, and it looks good when you know how to credit someone else's work.

In today's connected home, Internet security needs to extend beyond the PC. Any device that's connected to the Internet needs to be password protected, secured with a firewall, and utilize available security apps. These precautions should be taken even with seemingly harmless devices like baby monitors. A family from Ohio recently learned this lesson the hard way.

Microsoft put out the fire from the zero-day bug affecting users of its popular web browser Internet Explorer by releasing a security patch. This IE bug is a bad one that allows hackers to take over a PC. The patch was released on May 1st and if you haven't yet applied it to your PC, then you should do so right away!